Two-thirds of voters question his integrity and Conservatives mutiny over parties and Covid curbs
–
The Conservatives have slumped to their worst poll rating in 11 months as the prime minister battles on several fronts.
Tory MPs turned on Boris Johnson over plans for new Covid restrictions as a YouGov poll for The Times found that Labour had a four-point lead, its biggest since January when the country was in the middle of the winter lockdown.
More than two thirds of voters are also now questioning Johnson’s integrity over his response to a Downing Street Christmas party held while London was, in effect, locked down. He has said he was repeatedly assured that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken.
The prime minister faces a rebellion next week with more than 50 Tory MPs expected to vote against his plans for vaccine passports in the biggest Commons revolt of his premiership. Some Tory MPs think that the number of rebels could be closer to 100.
This could leave Johnson reliant on Labour votes to push the laws through. One senior Tory MP said he had lost the support of his party on the issue.
Tory MPs also voiced anger over “possibly criminal” behaviour after more details emerged about the Christmas party allegedly held on December 18 last year. *The Times* can reveal that the event, which is being investigated by Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, was planned three weeks in advance with invitations sent to officials and political advisers on WhatsApp. ITV News disclosed that Jack Doyle, the prime minister’s communications director, gave a speech at the event and handed out awards.
Tory MPs were speculating that more letters of no confidence in the prime minister were being submitted to Sir Graham Brady, leader of the backbench 1922 Committee, although they said there was little chance of Johnson being forced out.
One minister said that Johnson will remain in post by “default” because there is no challenger around whom his critics could coalesce. “It’s a series of unforced errors,” the minister said. “People’s inboxes are glowing white-hot. Because nobody is there to challenge him he’s effectively there by default. We’re lucky the leader of the opposition is absolutely useless.” The YouGov poll puts Labour on 37 per cent, up four points, and the Conservatives on 33 per cent, down three points.
It suggests that the allegations that the Christmas Party was held in No 10 — in particular a leaked video in which Johnson’s former spokeswoman laughed about it — have cut through.
Three quarters of people believe that there was a Christmas party in which coronavirus rules were broken and 68 per cent of those polled believe Johnson was not telling the truth when he denied it. Two thirds think that Johnson himself has probably not followed the rules.
One in five Conservative voters said that the government’s response to the allegations made them trust it less. Almost 60 per cent of voters said they had personally watched the clips, with 61 per cent of those saying the video had made them feel angry and 44 per cent saying they felt betrayed.
The Tory MP Philip Hollobone said his constituents were “very angry indeed” about the Christmas party, describing the behaviour as “totally inappropriate” and “possibly criminal”.
No 10 is also increasingly concerned about a rebellion by Tory MPs on Tuesday over a requirement for vaccine passports or negative lateral flow tests as proof of entry for nightclubs and large venues. One minister said that the decision to mandate vaccine passports was an “unforced error”, adding: “We picked a massive fight with colleagues that wasn’t needed.”
Another minister said: “Once the softer rebels have been picked off then that probably leaves us with at least 40 rebels, maybe 50. Labour are backing us so that effectively means this is a whipping operation to spare the PM’s blushes rather than to win the vote.”
Pauline Latham, a former member of the 1922 Committee, suggested Johnson had brought in Plan B restrictions to distract from revelations about the Christmas party. “It is shocking and I think it’s inappropriate to do that,” she said. “We’ve been told through this pandemic, we’re following the science. We don’t seem to be following it any more, and haven’t done for a very long time.”
Latham added that it looked like Johnson would be forced to get the new rules through with the help of Labour. “At the moment it looks, on this issue, he’s not got the support of the parliamentary party,” she said. Latham would not rule out submitting a letter of no confidence in the prime minister. “I do think [Johnson] needs to take a good hard look at how things are going.”
*Steven Swinford, Political Editor* | *Oliver Wright, Policy Editor* | *Henry Zeffman, Chief Political Correspondent*
What’s the point in trying to abide by the law anymore when they get away with everything. Still can’t believe the average person will back this government when they’ve made it clear it’s one rule for them and one rule for us. Here before “bUt cOrbYn” idiots.
Finally, its only taken 145.000 dead people and a bunch of scumbags taking the piss out of the people at a party for suddenly people see the scumbags for what they are, scum.
Good…
Goooood….
Let the hate flow through you.
This is nothing to do with the actual scandals that boris is involved in. This is 100% on the papers and wider media reporting on it in the critical way they always should have. They want him gone.
Scandal, election strategy, none of it means a fucking thing. If one of the owners of UK media want you out they’ll make it happen.
If there’s one thing I’ve noticed in the past couple of years, is that as the head of a corrupt system, the fact the system is fucked and unfair isn’t what will hurt your reputation, but some random tangential seemingly very unimportant transgression can absolutely fuck up your whole scheme via bad PR and word of mouth.
For all the shit the Tories have pulled, I can’t believe it’s a fucking Christmas “party” which may or may not have just been people popping open a bottle of champagne late after work and not a fucking disco with lasers and a DJ with a sound system is doing by far the most damage to this evil fucking monster than should have been killed long ago for it’s direct actions.
I just can’t get over how much we don’t know! What sleezy stuff has this political party done that hasn’t made it to the masses? This government has had more scandles than any in living memory so you can bet there is a ton of stuff that they managed to bury.
Wtf does it say about this country that after *everything* the tories have fucked up, it’s a Christmas Party that people are pissed off about?
Trust falls, implying trust level was ever above 0, which is the most surprising thing about this
Imagine having trust in Boris Johnson to begin with. Should disqualify you from voting, driving and breeding.
Trust in Boris ? this is not just Boris,
This is every single Tory MP , each and every one of them is perfectly comfortable with the people of the UK continually being lied to, they enable and take part.
We know this because not one of them , on any occasion stood up at any point and said I will not go along with these lies ?
John Major squeaked a little outrage , then scuttled off, but no serving Tory MP has been honest and ever decided to serve the British public and speak out.
Not one of any of the Tory MPs is more honest than Boris, if they decide to get rid of him, they will just replace him with another duplicitous self serving badgerlicker, as that is all they have to choose from.
11 comments
Two-thirds of voters question his integrity and Conservatives mutiny over parties and Covid curbs
–
The Conservatives have slumped to their worst poll rating in 11 months as the prime minister battles on several fronts.
Tory MPs turned on Boris Johnson over plans for new Covid restrictions as a YouGov poll for The Times found that Labour had a four-point lead, its biggest since January when the country was in the middle of the winter lockdown.
More than two thirds of voters are also now questioning Johnson’s integrity over his response to a Downing Street Christmas party held while London was, in effect, locked down. He has said he was repeatedly assured that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken.
The prime minister faces a rebellion next week with more than 50 Tory MPs expected to vote against his plans for vaccine passports in the biggest Commons revolt of his premiership. Some Tory MPs think that the number of rebels could be closer to 100.
This could leave Johnson reliant on Labour votes to push the laws through. One senior Tory MP said he had lost the support of his party on the issue.
Tory MPs also voiced anger over “possibly criminal” behaviour after more details emerged about the Christmas party allegedly held on December 18 last year. *The Times* can reveal that the event, which is being investigated by Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, was planned three weeks in advance with invitations sent to officials and political advisers on WhatsApp. ITV News disclosed that Jack Doyle, the prime minister’s communications director, gave a speech at the event and handed out awards.
Tory MPs were speculating that more letters of no confidence in the prime minister were being submitted to Sir Graham Brady, leader of the backbench 1922 Committee, although they said there was little chance of Johnson being forced out.
One minister said that Johnson will remain in post by “default” because there is no challenger around whom his critics could coalesce. “It’s a series of unforced errors,” the minister said. “People’s inboxes are glowing white-hot. Because nobody is there to challenge him he’s effectively there by default. We’re lucky the leader of the opposition is absolutely useless.” The YouGov poll puts Labour on 37 per cent, up four points, and the Conservatives on 33 per cent, down three points.
It suggests that the allegations that the Christmas Party was held in No 10 — in particular a leaked video in which Johnson’s former spokeswoman laughed about it — have cut through.
Three quarters of people believe that there was a Christmas party in which coronavirus rules were broken and 68 per cent of those polled believe Johnson was not telling the truth when he denied it. Two thirds think that Johnson himself has probably not followed the rules.
One in five Conservative voters said that the government’s response to the allegations made them trust it less. Almost 60 per cent of voters said they had personally watched the clips, with 61 per cent of those saying the video had made them feel angry and 44 per cent saying they felt betrayed.
The Tory MP Philip Hollobone said his constituents were “very angry indeed” about the Christmas party, describing the behaviour as “totally inappropriate” and “possibly criminal”.
No 10 is also increasingly concerned about a rebellion by Tory MPs on Tuesday over a requirement for vaccine passports or negative lateral flow tests as proof of entry for nightclubs and large venues. One minister said that the decision to mandate vaccine passports was an “unforced error”, adding: “We picked a massive fight with colleagues that wasn’t needed.”
Another minister said: “Once the softer rebels have been picked off then that probably leaves us with at least 40 rebels, maybe 50. Labour are backing us so that effectively means this is a whipping operation to spare the PM’s blushes rather than to win the vote.”
Pauline Latham, a former member of the 1922 Committee, suggested Johnson had brought in Plan B restrictions to distract from revelations about the Christmas party. “It is shocking and I think it’s inappropriate to do that,” she said. “We’ve been told through this pandemic, we’re following the science. We don’t seem to be following it any more, and haven’t done for a very long time.”
Latham added that it looked like Johnson would be forced to get the new rules through with the help of Labour. “At the moment it looks, on this issue, he’s not got the support of the parliamentary party,” she said. Latham would not rule out submitting a letter of no confidence in the prime minister. “I do think [Johnson] needs to take a good hard look at how things are going.”
*Steven Swinford, Political Editor* | *Oliver Wright, Policy Editor* | *Henry Zeffman, Chief Political Correspondent*
Thursday December 09 2021, 10.30pm, The Times
–
**Extra**:
>[Times: Downing Street Christmas party had been planned for weeks](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/downing-street-christmas-party-planned-for-weeks-sqjcxnhwq)
>
>(mirror link: https://archive.md/m8OEt)
What’s the point in trying to abide by the law anymore when they get away with everything. Still can’t believe the average person will back this government when they’ve made it clear it’s one rule for them and one rule for us. Here before “bUt cOrbYn” idiots.
Finally, its only taken 145.000 dead people and a bunch of scumbags taking the piss out of the people at a party for suddenly people see the scumbags for what they are, scum.
Good…
Goooood….
Let the hate flow through you.
This is nothing to do with the actual scandals that boris is involved in. This is 100% on the papers and wider media reporting on it in the critical way they always should have. They want him gone.
Scandal, election strategy, none of it means a fucking thing. If one of the owners of UK media want you out they’ll make it happen.
If there’s one thing I’ve noticed in the past couple of years, is that as the head of a corrupt system, the fact the system is fucked and unfair isn’t what will hurt your reputation, but some random tangential seemingly very unimportant transgression can absolutely fuck up your whole scheme via bad PR and word of mouth.
For all the shit the Tories have pulled, I can’t believe it’s a fucking Christmas “party” which may or may not have just been people popping open a bottle of champagne late after work and not a fucking disco with lasers and a DJ with a sound system is doing by far the most damage to this evil fucking monster than should have been killed long ago for it’s direct actions.
I just can’t get over how much we don’t know! What sleezy stuff has this political party done that hasn’t made it to the masses? This government has had more scandles than any in living memory so you can bet there is a ton of stuff that they managed to bury.
Wtf does it say about this country that after *everything* the tories have fucked up, it’s a Christmas Party that people are pissed off about?
Trust falls, implying trust level was ever above 0, which is the most surprising thing about this
Imagine having trust in Boris Johnson to begin with. Should disqualify you from voting, driving and breeding.
Trust in Boris ? this is not just Boris,
This is every single Tory MP , each and every one of them is perfectly comfortable with the people of the UK continually being lied to, they enable and take part.
We know this because not one of them , on any occasion stood up at any point and said I will not go along with these lies ?
John Major squeaked a little outrage , then scuttled off, but no serving Tory MP has been honest and ever decided to serve the British public and speak out.
Not one of any of the Tory MPs is more honest than Boris, if they decide to get rid of him, they will just replace him with another duplicitous self serving badgerlicker, as that is all they have to choose from.